Configure the Simplicity Power Estimator Tool for Wi-Fi Applications#
The Simplicity Power Estimator enables developers to simulate various operating scenarios by configuring parameters that reflect real-world application use cases. Based on the selected configuration, the tool calculates average current consumption and estimates battery life.
Step 1: Set Up Your Device Configuration#
Follow these steps to model your device configuration.
1. Select a Battery Type#
Select a predefined battery profile, such as AA or coin cell.
To use a custom battery, select Custom... and enter the battery capacity in the Battery Capacity field.
2. Allocate Memory#
Allocate the available 672 kB of SRAM between the Network Wireless Processor (NWP) and the Cortex-M4 processor.
Decide how much M4 memory remains active during sleep. The available amount depends on the memory allocation.
Note: The default memory allocation is 352 kB / 320 kB, the most commonly used memory split for the shared SRAM. In this configuration, the Network Wireless Processor (NWP) allocates 352 kB and the Cortex-M4 uses the remainder of the 672 kB of the shared on-die SRAM. For an application that does not require the 320 kB, selecting 256 kB or 192 kB for the Cortex-M4 can reduce power consumption.
3. Configure Wireless Processor Sleep Behavior#
Select a Sleep Configuration Mode:
Target Wake Time (TWT): Available when connected to a Wi-Fi 6 access points. The device wakes up at scheduled intervals.
Unassociated: The device is not connected to a network.
Associated: The device is connected to a network. This mode uses DTIM-based operation supported by Wi-Fi 5 and earlier networks.
Depending on the selected mode, update the following settings:
Setting | Description |
|---|---|
TWT Wake Interval | Frequency at which the device wakes in TWT mode, in seconds. |
TWT Wake Duration | Time the device remains awake before returning to sleep. |
Unassociated Wake Periodicity | Frequency of network scans while unassociated. |
Associated Listen Interval | Frequency at which the device listens for Wi-Fi frames. |
WLAN Keep-Alive | Frequency of keep-alive packet transmission. Available only in TWT and Associated modes. |
4. Configure the Application Processor (Cortex-M4)#
Enable or disable the Cortex-M4 processor.
Configure the following settings:
Setting
Description
M4 Wake Periodicity
Interval between Cortex-M4 wake events without NWP.
M4 Awake Duration
Length of time the Cortex-M4 remains active independently.
5. Configure Data Transfer Behavior#
Enable or disable data transfer.
If enabled, configure the following settings:
Setting
Description
TX Periodicity
Frequency of sending data via TCP.
TX Size
Amount of data sent during each TX operation.
RX Periodicity
Frequency of receiving data via TCP.
RX Size
Amount of data received during each RX operation.
Socket Keep-Alive
Interval between TCP keep-alive messages.
6. Add Peripherals#
Enable or disable peripheral configuration.
Select a predefined peripheral (such as a humidity sensor or LCD) or define your own.
If using a custom peripheral, enter its power consumption.
Step 2: View the Results#
After you configure the device, the estimator calculates the following metrics:
Average Current Consumption: The estimated average current used by the device.
Estimated Battery Life: The projected operating lifetime based on the selected battery in the chosen metric.
Activity Breakdown: A diagram showing how much power each activity (like sleep or data transfer) consumes.
Limitations#
Estimates are derived strictly from static data sheet parameters.
Environmental influences and hardware variations (such as temperature or impedance mismatch) are not modeled.
The estimator does not support runtime power profiling.